Jordan Trail Experience

If you are arriving into Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, on Day 1 you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. If you are not arriving on Day 1, please make your own way to the hotel or ask us for private transfer details (additional cost applies). Amman is the capital of Jordan, and was known in biblical times as Rabbath Ammon, and under the Ptolemies, as Philadelphia. It is situated on a series of Jebels (meaning hills) and is divided by wadi’s (or dry river beds) into modern and ancient quarters. Remainder of day at leisure. Please check at hotel reception for the time to meet your guide tomorrow.

Meals:  D

After breakfast we drive to Jerash, where we visit one of the largest and best preserved Graeco- Roman ruins in the Middle East. The grandeur of Imperial Rome is evident from the extensive remnants of this ancient city. We will enjoy a traditional lunch at a local women’s cooperative. We then continue to the village of Ajlun with its fortress, which was built by Saladin's nephew between 1184-1188 AD to protect the country from the Crusader attacks at the important pilgrimage and trade route intersection between Damascus, Jerusalem, Cairo and Mecca. We will hike from Ajlun Castle to Tel Mar Elias through a wooded valley and past orchards, with views of the Jordan Valley. Transfer to Ajlun reserve for dinner and overnight at our hotel. Approx walking & driving distance: 9.5 kms & 4 hrs walking; 170 kms drive

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we will hike for for 2-3 hours in the Ajlun reserve. Then we will drive from Ajlun reserve to Zubia, and commence our hike in Bergesh Forest (9 kms). We will have time for lunch at a local family house, and afterwards transfer to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, for a dip in the famously buoyant waters, which have a saline level around 30 per cent. Free time at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Approx walking & driving distance: 9 kms & 2-3 hrs walking; 106 kms drive.

Meals:  B,L,D

Free morning at leisure at the Dead Sea. After lunch we will transfer to the Dana Nature Reserve. We will hike the Nawatef Trail, which is a 2 kms circular trail taking 2 hours, starting from the al-Barrah area and takes you to the beautiful mountains, springs and ancient ruins in the Nawatef area. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Approx walking & driving distance: 2 kms & 2-3 hrs walking; 150 kms drive.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we will hike the Wadi Dana Trail, which is a long hike of around 14 kms and taking 5-7 hrs. This is a spectacular downhill walk from Dana to Feynan through the sandstone gorge of Wadi Dana. Afterwards we will transfer to Beidha, for dinner and overnight at the bedouin camp site. Beidha, also known as Little Petra, is the place where the Nabateans used to entertain their guests in the 1st and 2nd centuries BC, but it is believed this ancient settlement had its origins in the 11th century BC. Approx walking & driving distance: 14 kms & 5-7 hrs walking (ascent 230m; descent 114m); 55.8 kms drive.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we will hike to Petra, and enter the site from the Monastery (Al Deir). The soul-stirring, rose-red city of Petra is chief among Jordan’s archaeological riches, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, facades, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples and haunting rock drawings and reliefs. At the end of the day, we will exit the site through the Siq, a 1km long narrow gorge flanked by towering cliffs. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Approx walking distance: 14 kms & 5 hrs walking (plus 4-5 hrs exploring Petra). Note: Your entry ticket into the city of Petra includes a horse ride into or out of the site and you will have the option to ride a donkey from the end of the Siq. In line with our commitment to animal welfare in tourism we encourage you to walk, rather than ride a horse and donkey. There have been a number of instances where travellers have been upset by the treatment of the horses and donkeys by their handlers.

Meals:  B,L,D

Chief among Jordan’s archaeological riches is the soul-stirring, rose-red city of Petra, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will approach the city on foot through a 1km long narrow gorge or siq, flanked by towering cliffs. The sudden view of Petra’s most spectacular monument, the Khaznah, or Treasury at the end of the Siq, is a dramatic sight. Used in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this towering facade is only the first of Petra’s unique structures. After our visit to Petra and lunch, we drive south to the enchanting desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan’s largest desert and one of the most spectacular desert landscapes in the world. It is a unique valley of colored sand dunes surrounded by beautiful rugged mountains. We enjoy a jeep safari inside the Wadi until we reach our Bedouin campsite and delight in a traditional dinner. NOTE - At the time of booking, there is an option to upgrade to a Martian Dome Tent - additional supplement applies; subject to availability. Approx driving distance: 125 kms drive.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we will undertake the hike up Jabal Um Ad Dami, the highest peak in Jordan, which is a full and challenging day and a major highlight of this trip. No technical climbing experience is required, but a keen sense of adventure to undertake the requisite scrambling for majestic views of Wadi Rum’s dramatic desert landscapes across to Saudi Arabia in the distance. Very early in the morning, we will transfer by jeep to the starting point of the hike, and at the end of the hike by jeep back to the Wadi Rum camp. After collecting our luggage we will drive to Aqaba (approx 1 hour) for dinner and overnight at our hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Approx walking & driving distance: 6-7 hrs walking; 50 kms drive.

Meals:  B,L,D

The morning is free at leisure to relax by the Red Sea. Those interested in scuba diving or snorkeling can enjoy the sport at one of the world’s most conserved coral reefs (own expense). Alternatively there are many cafes and restaurants and some colourful market places to explore. After lunch, we will drive back to Amman for dinner and overnight at our hotel. Approx driving distance: 400 kms drive

Meals:  B,L,D

Trip concludes after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for anyone leaving Jordan today. Additional nights accommodation and private airport transfers on any other day can be arranged for extra cost.

Meals:  B